State House last night denied that the head chef had been unceremoniously sacked after he displeased First Lady Lucy Kibaki. The chief, only identified as a Mr King'ori lost his job in unclear circumstances just hours before President Kibaki left for the official opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games last Friday. The First Lady did not accompany the president. Instead, their daughter Judy Kibaki was with her father when he met with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace.

The First Lady has been keeping a low profile and has also been absent during public functions for close to a year. The Presidential Press Service has strenuously sought to assure the public that all was well with the First Lady. According to multiple sources, the chef has not been replaced after the falling out with the First Lady.

Last evening the Head of the Presidential Press Service Isaiya Kabira denied that a chef had been fired. "No chef has been fired and wonder what any such inaccurate report is meant to achieve. Your sources are misinformed and only want to trivialize State House operations. Those charged with the responsibility of undertaking catering services at State House continue to undertake their responsibilities," said Kabira. State House cooks are seconded by the public service commission and it was still not clear whether chef King'ori has been retired or will be transferred to another government institution by the PSC.

The head chef is the latest in a long list of senior State House staff who have unceremoniously exited State House during the Kibaki era. Some of those who have left the house on the hill in rather cloudy circumstances include former State House comptrollers Matere Keriri, Hyslop Ipu and Nelson Githinji in that order. They were either dismissed or transferred to other government departments after allegedly falling out with the First Lady. Keriri was publicly humiliated when the First Lady snubbed him as he stretched out his hand to greet her when she and the President arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after an official visit of Mombasa.

In 2007, she slapped the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and Principal Administrative Secretary, Francis Musyimi for a slip of the tongue. The incident happened before dozens of dignitaries and invited guests during the annual Jamhuri Day garden party. Musyimi had inadvertently referred to the First Lady as Lucy Wambui. Musyimi was immediately transferred from State House. Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara is another who has faced the First Lady's wrath. In January 2008, Imanyara, accused the First Lady of of assault and threatened to move to court to sue her over the alleged incident. He said he was prevailed upon by the Meru council of elders, the Njuri Ncheke not to pursue the matter.

The same fate also befell former presidential escort commandant Benson Kibui in September 2010 following a disagreement with a member of the first family. Kibui, left the presidential escort and went to serve as the Western provincial police boos. He is now the Traffic Commandant. The same fate befell Kibui's successor, Kitili Mwendwa in July this year who was also barred from setting foot in State House for allegedly allowing a well known political activist to meet with the President at his Harambee House office. Mwendwa did not accompany the President when he made an official trip to Burundi a few days later.

In 2003 the First Lady walked out of a New Year’s Eve party when Former Vice President Moody Awori’s made a faux pas by introducing her as the Second Lady. The First Lady, who is known for directly speaking her mind, criticized one of Kibaki's trusted minister, the late Prof George Saitoti, whom she accused of being disrespectful of Kenyans and failing in ensuring security for them in 2009. The First Lady was irked when Saitoti said the tragic Sachang'wan oil tank fire in which 120 people died should serve as a lesson to wananchi not to scoop oil from grounded tankers. The First Lady lashed out at Saitoti wondering how dead people can learn a lesson. Prof Saitoti died on June 10 this year, when the police chopper he was traveling in crashed at Kibiku area in Ngong.

There was a near scuffle at Orange House in Nairobi last Wednesday when an ODM parliamentary hopeful from Embakasi accompanied by about 20 youths went there and started covering the walls with a fresh court of orange paint. Party officials stopped the group saying the aspirant did not have authority to paint the premises. The aspirant was told that painting the building would cause discontent amongst other aspirants who may perceive the action as attempting to get political mileage. The officials said the party had already allocated money for renovating the building. The politician and his army of painters ignored the officials and went ahead to give the building a new coat of brilliant orange paint.

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The congregation of a Catholic church in Ngong area are up in arms over one of the priests whom they accuse is ignoring his celibacy vows, adultery (with married women) and alcoholism. It is said the priest was recently involved in a road accident after a night of heavy drinking. The congregation wants the Bishop of the Ngong Diocese to take action before the situation gets out of control and brings the church into disrepute.

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Brian Weke, who last vied for the Kamukunji parliamentary seat on a Narc-Kenya ticket, may soon find himself out of the flower party for allegedly supporting others and campaigning for Eugene Wamalwa who is the New Ford Kenya presidential aspirant. The party led by its presidential aspirant Martha Karua is set to convene a disciplinary hearing over Weke and sources say unless the young politician can present a convincing defence of his actions, he might be ejected as the party's constitution bars members from campaigning for candidates of other parties.

In
this episode, XYZ unearths exclusive footage of what really happened in the
Ezekiel Kemboi drama, Miguna Miguna joins Keff on set for a fascinating
Interview on his just released controversial book, and presidential aspirant
Martha Karua performs Tiwa Savage’s Kele Kele Love!

The
XYZ Show is Africa’s first and most popular puppet political satire show,
produced by Buni in Nairobi. Every week its cast of latex characters comments
on Kenyan and international news with gusto. Barack Obama, Muammar Gaddafi,
Mwai Kibaki, Robert Mugabe, Raila Odinga, Kofi Annan, Jacob Zuma or Luis
Moreno-Ocampo, nobody is safe from XYZ’s witty brand of humor.

Police release photo of Venezuela diplomat murder suspect

Muhammed Ahmed Mohammed Hassan, who is wanted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Nairobi Area in connection with the murder of of the late charge d’affaires at the Venezuelan Embassy in Nairobi Olga Fonsesca July 31, 2012. COURTESY

By ZADOCK ANGIRAPosted Tuesday, July 31 2012 at 13:53

Police have circulated the photo of a man suspected to have been involved in the murder of the late charge d’affaires at the Venezuelan Embassy in Nairobi Olga Fonsesca.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said that Muhammed Ahmed Mohammed Hassan was wanted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Nairobi Area in connection with the murder.

"Any person with information on his whereabouts is requested to report to the nearest police station or police officer," said Mr Kiraithe Tuesday.

Nairobi CID police boss Nicholas Kamwende moved to court to request a warrant of arrest for Mr Hassan.

The suspect is a close friend of the embassy’s First Secretary Dwight Saragay, who was arraigned in court on Monday over the same allegations.

The Director of Public Prosecution, through state counsel Tabitha Ouya, applied for a 14-day detention of Mr Dwight to allow his office complete investigations before bringing up formal murder charge against him over the murder of Olga Fonseca.

"Initial investigations reveal the deceased was strangled and Mr Sagaray is a key suspect in her death. The offence is very serious and has attracted much public attention which is why we are requesting for more days to complete investigations," said Ms Ouya in court on Monday.

However, Lady Justice Florence Muchemi ruled that the suspect will be detained for six and not 14 days as requested by the State.

Marende tells MPs to attend new chambers 'training'

Speaker Kenneth Marende has asked MPs to show up for “training” sessions in Parliament to get the skills required to use modern equipment in the refurbished debating chambers July 31, 2012. FILE

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU ashiundu@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Tuesday, July 31 2012 at 15:14

Speaker Kenneth Marende has asked MPs to show up for “training” sessions in Parliament to get the skills required to use modern equipment in the refurbished debating chambers.

Mr Marende made the call Tuesday in Parliament as he welcomed the lawmakers back to the House after a month-long recess.

The Speaker said the MPs should be done with the training as soon as possible because the refurbished building will be ready within the next ten days.

The official opening of the chamber, whose facelift cost the taxpayer Sh958 million, is expected next Tuesday. President Kibaki is scheduled to preside over the invite-only event.

Gitobu Imanyara (Imenti Central) asked the Speaker why MPs had to meet in the congested Old Chambers yet the works in the main debating chamber had already been concluded.

Mr Imanyara said the MPs had hoped to sit in the new chambers when Parliament re-opened and wondered what had become of the plan to move house.

“We’re awake to that anticipation (that we’d move to the refurbished chambers upon reopening). The new Chamber has been fully refurbished and equipped, and as a matter of fact all members have undergone training. Those who have not, should do so. We expect to be able to move into the new chamber, not more than ten days from today,” said Mr Marende.

The MPs will have to be trained on the use of smart cards to log in and out of the House. The cards will have pins and the MPs will activate the microphones next to their seats using these cards. The digital console where the card will be inserted has buttons for electronic voting, buttons to alert the Speaker that an MP is eager to contribute, and another button to alert the Speaker about a Point of Order (an interruption to signal a breach in procedure).

There will be no more competition to stand up to catch the Speaker’s eye as is the case now.

The MPs will vote through an electronic gadget that will be attached to their seats and the Speaker will control the whole process without leaving his seat; the Speaker will have a gadget to send “instant text messages to individual MPs”, plus he’ll have the power to decide which MP will speak, when, and which one ought to shut up, all these via a microphone switch on his console.

The MPs with disability have also been catered for. There’s a ramp to get them to the House and then there’ll be a large screen showing interpreters for the deaf.

At the desk, both light and sound alerts are available for MPs.

Mr Marende said the chamber will hold 350 MPs expected in the House in the next Parliament. Currently, there are 222 members of Parliament.

Mr Kajwang said due to time constraints, the system could only be used in the 2017 polls.

Addressing journalists at his Nyayo House office in Nairobi Tuesday, Mr Kajwang said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should resort to manual registration of voters and perfect the tallying system.

“The IEBC should recruit clerks and give them forms to fill at home and compile and forget about thumb prints and photography, which needs a lot of time and testing if it does not want the country to go through what it experienced in 2007,” Mr Kajwang said.

Mr Kajwang said biometric voter registration requires a complex system and enough time for trials and that it could not be effected within the remaining time before the elections.

“We are not talking about integrity of IEBC. IEBC could be having the best intention but it will not achieve it in the time span available.

"We don’t want what happened in Uganda where billions of shillings were allocated for production of national IDs but the guys who won the tender fled. What would happen if the same happens to Kenya in an election year,” Mr Kajwang said.

Mr Kajwang said the tendering process for the BVR was steeped in confusion because of fighting among competitors “who have bought so and so".

“Secondly we don’t even know whether the biometric system will work,” Mr Kajwang said.

He said the current controversy over the tendering process could move to court and thus cause more delays.

“The IEBC cannot deliver within the remaining time as the tender process must be open and transparent. We should forget about it until 2017,” Mr Kajwang said.

He said the registration of voters should start this month or latest in September, as per the IEBC timelines.

The minister said the problem is not in registration but in tallying of votes and announcement of results.

“Why impose on us a new and untested system? We are laying an infrastructure for an election that will decide whether we have good or bad election and that infrastructure must be solid, tested and accepted,” Mr Kajwang said.

Mr Kajwang said IEBC should gain the courage and cancel the BVR.

On issuance of national IDs, Mr Kajwang said his Ministry was committed to ensuring all eligible Kenyans got the documents.

"The delay is because of our technical people but they are trying their best to reverse the situation. We want everybody to register as per the Constitution. We have to make it happen," Mr Kajwang said.

He said there's no cause for alarm or tension as his Ministry has enough material and officers on the ground for registration. He said a special gazette notice will be issued on Friday to waive the Sh300 charges for ID applicants.

After a day-long meeting chaired by IEBC boss Ahmed Issack Hassan and the secretariat to discuss the matter that has captured public attention, an advert signed by chief executive officer James Oswago was sent to media houses cancelling the Sh3.9 billion tender.

Police have circulated
photographs of a Kenyan doctor wanted in connection with the murder of the
Venezuela ambassador to Kenya Olga Fonsesca Jimerez.

Police say they cannot trace Muhammed Ahmed
Mohammed Hassan who has been mentioned in the probe into the death of the envoy
whose body was discovered in her Runda home last Friday.

“The person whose photographs are hereby attached going by the
names Muhammed Ahmed Mohammed Hassan is wanted by Criminal Investigations
Department Nairobi Area in connection with a case of murder involving the late
Mrs Olga Fonsesca Jimerez who was until her tragic death the charge D'affairs
Venezuelan Embassy in Nairobi,” said police spokesman Eric Kiraithe.

Kiraithe asked for public help to trace Hassan and revealed a
warrant of arrest had been issued by a Nairobi court on July 31.

Detectives handling the case of the ambassador led by Nairobi CID
police boss Nicholas Kamwende moved to court to request a warrant of arrest for
Mr Hassan.

Investigations had shown the suspect is a close friend of the
embassy’s First Secretary Dwight Saragay, who was arraigned on Monday over the
same charges.

State counsel Tabitha Ouya, applied for a 14-day detention of Mr
Dwight but was given six days to allow his office complete investigations
before bringing up formal murder charge against

Lady Justice Florence Muchemi ruled that the suspect will be
detained for six and not 14 days as requested by the State.

Mr Sagaray was arrested on Saturday after his diplomatic immunity
was waived, but police did not manage to compile all the necessary evidence.

Two other guards were charged with failing to stop a felony over
the same incdent.

Police say Dr Ahmed and Mr Saragay had been following the progress
of investigations into charges of alleged sexual harassment against the embassy
former ambassador, which had been reported to the police in Gigiri in April
this year.

Two senior government officials from
Venezuela arrived in Nairobi at the weekend to push for investigations and
arrest of those behind the murder of South American country’s ambassador to
Kenya.

Fonseca was strangled in her house on Thursday night.

The acting ambassador had been staying at a hotel and had only
moved to the embassy’s residence in Runda two days before she was killed on
Thursday night.

Before her body was discovered in her
bedroom, she had had a party at the residence in which several people are said
to have attended on Thursday night.

Police said t Ms Fonseca, who arrived in Nairobi on July 15, had
not been given a police escort nor was her residence guarded by police.

Police have established the envoy was murdered over power struggle
at the embassy.

Justice Kalpana Rawal: Next General Election to be held in March 2013.

Justice Hannah Okwengu: Election to be held 60 days after expiry of Parliament in January 14, 2013. Next polls in March 2013.

Justice Erastus Githinji: The next General Election should be held in March 2013. IEBC date of March 4, 2013 should be adhered to.

Justice Martha Koome: Elections should be on or before January 15, 2013

The Court of Appeal has upheld a lower court's ruling that the next Kenya General Election will be held in March 2013.

A majority bench ruled that the March 4, 2013 date set out by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) be "adhered to".

Only Justice Martha Koome issued a dissenting ruling. The judge ruled that the polls should be held on or before January 15, 2013.

Justice Koome ruled that Parliament’s life should not exceed a five-year cycle and said the House should be dissolved on November 14, 2012.

She ruled that the High Court misinterpreted the Constitution and the two alternatives given by court were unconstitutional. The judge declared them null and void.

However, four appellate judges ruled that Kenyans will go to the polls in March next year.

Judges Erastus Githinji, Kalpana Rawal, Hannah Okwengu and David Maranga upheld a decision reached by the High Court in January regarding the election date.

Justices Isaac Lenaola, David Majanja and Mumbi Ngugi ruled that the elections will be held in March, 2013 after the expiry of the current Parliament’s term unless the President and the Prime Minister agree in writing to dissolve the Coalition Government.

Following the decision and the failure by the two principals to indicate whether they will dissolve the government, the IEBC went ahead to fix the election date on March 4, 2013.

However, two lobby groups, the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) and the Caucus for Women’s Leadership appealed against the High Court ruling claiming that the judges misinterpreted the Constitution.